TY - JOUR
T1 - Religion and Spirituality as a core module in Social Work Education in Nigeria
T2 - perspectives of social work educators
AU - Agbawodikeizu, Patricia U.
AU - Levy, Susan
AU - Ekoh, Prince Chiagozie
AU - Chukwu, Ngozi Eucharia
AU - Okoye, Uzoma Odera
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to express our gratitude to all the study participants, who have contributed to this research by expending their valuable time during the data collection phase. We would also like to acknowledge and thank the organizers of the British Academy African Social Work Writing Workshop, 2020.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Taylor & Francis.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Religion and spirituality are central to everyday life in Nigeria. Social work educators recognize that learning cannot be separated from the influence of context, including religion and spirituality. This study presents the first empirical inquiry into religion and spirituality in social work education in Nigeria. The qualitative study explored the inclusion of religion and spirituality on Nigerian social work programs from the viewpoints of social work educators; adopting phenomenological approach. Data from key informants' semi-structured interviews with 12 purposively sampled social work educators based at three Nigerian universities (University of Nigeria, Nsukka; University of Benin, and Nnamdi Azikiwe University) were analyzed thematically. The findings highlight the importance of religion and spirituality in social work education; yet point to coverage being limited and located within elective modules, and for social work educators to recognize the relevance of religious and spiritual aspects of their students’ and service users’ existence in developing educational curricula. The study calls for prioritizing the integration of religion and spirituality in social work degree programs. Strengthening the links between religion, spirituality and social work will better prepare future practitioners to be cultural component and work with the profession’s values of social justice.
AB - Religion and spirituality are central to everyday life in Nigeria. Social work educators recognize that learning cannot be separated from the influence of context, including religion and spirituality. This study presents the first empirical inquiry into religion and spirituality in social work education in Nigeria. The qualitative study explored the inclusion of religion and spirituality on Nigerian social work programs from the viewpoints of social work educators; adopting phenomenological approach. Data from key informants' semi-structured interviews with 12 purposively sampled social work educators based at three Nigerian universities (University of Nigeria, Nsukka; University of Benin, and Nnamdi Azikiwe University) were analyzed thematically. The findings highlight the importance of religion and spirituality in social work education; yet point to coverage being limited and located within elective modules, and for social work educators to recognize the relevance of religious and spiritual aspects of their students’ and service users’ existence in developing educational curricula. The study calls for prioritizing the integration of religion and spirituality in social work degree programs. Strengthening the links between religion, spirituality and social work will better prepare future practitioners to be cultural component and work with the profession’s values of social justice.
KW - Spirituality and Religion
KW - Social Work Education
KW - Strengths-based
KW - Cultural Social Work
KW - Nigeria
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85134591486&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/15426432.2022.2089316
DO - 10.1080/15426432.2022.2089316
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85134591486
SN - 1542-6432
VL - 41
SP - 335
EP - 350
JO - Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Social Work: Social Thought
JF - Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Social Work: Social Thought
IS - 4
ER -
